This mb dealer in NJ wanted to charge me $80 to replace the light bulb in the climate control unit.

$5 in parts later ($3.50 for the bulb, $1.50 for the tools), the light was replaced in a grand total of 49 seconds, start to finish.

So basically, they were gonna charge me $76.50 for labor.

Using an hourly rate of $110, that means it would have taken them 41.7 minutes to do this job.

Since I beat them by about 41 minutes, maybe I should be an MB tech.


I just feel bad for the next guy who doesn't know how easy it is.

 

That's why I learn to service my '96 E320 as much as possible.. with a lot of help from MB owners on internet

 

Most Mercedes Dealers use a system called Flat Rate Times...
Its a Average repair time ....Factor in Overhead...Rent/Lights/Training etc

Look at a what a Tech must do..
Get the repair order..Locate the car...pull the A/C control unit ..order the parts..wait..then replace the defective bulb.. it will take at least 30min

Also the Tech Must Pay for the Tools used...Yes the radio keys are Cheap
But Most other tools are Not...I had at least 75K In Tools when I was working at MB... And When MB Releases a New Model...More New Workshop Tools $$

Granted you did that job fast...But They have to Earn a Buck also

 

Ok, I understand that, but should they really be charging $110 an hour to do that stuff then? Maybe it should be say $50/hr of admin/transport time, and then $110 for actual repair/diag time.

That way, you pay maybe $25 bux for the repair, which would be a LOT easier to stomach.

 

Don't forget the cost of you time to take it in, letting it sit for several hours before they even look at it, then the time it takes for them to call you (if they even call).

It's just a hassle to deal with them for anything other than major repairs.

 

This is why its a Great Time to locate a Good Independent MB Shop @60.00 a Hour..Better Service and prices!

 

Or just do it all myself

 

What $tealership was it ?

 

I didn't know mark used to work at MB. Hey Mark, mind if I bounce some questions your way?

 

In hong kong, well main land china. If a repair takes less then 45 min. Its free labor.

 

Hey guys,
I'm new to your forum, and new to MB.
I'm a tech for Porsche in Toronto, and just wanted to put in my two cents. First of all, yes, dealers do rip you off, and they will continue to rip you off. Just as Mark stated, there is overhead, tools,etc. The other important consideration is, whether it's your car for a light bulb, or your neighbors car for a tranny, time is time. The time spent on your bulb could be spent elsewhere. To add to this, in Canada, most of us are flat rate, which translates to book time. I can replace a clutch in a 996 in 2 hrs. The dealership will charge you 8 hrs. and I'll get paid for 8. At the same time, if I cut corners, and something is not right, I get to fix it properly for free. Oil changes pay 1 hr, but I'll spend 1 1/2 hrs and check the car over. The extra 1/2 is free, but I may find some more work.

I'm very good at my job, and I have a strong reputation for being honest and thorough. I even have a few American customers, that bring me their cars regularly.

Having said this, if I've never met you before, and I don't know you from a hole in the wall, how can you expect me to do something for free?

When I go to the liar's office, (sorry, I mean't lawyer), will they proof document's in exchange for a handshake? Has your doctor ever said "forget about it, it was nothing"?

Now If you develop a relationship with a tech on the otherhand, you'd be surprised at the extra mile they would go for you. Dealerships take the lion's share, and I know for a fact that American tech's don't make a ton of cash to begin with. So put a 20 in his hand, and tell him you appreciate what he's done. You'll have him in your pocket the next time, and any decent tech will bend over backwards for you. Who knows, he might even replace that climate bulb for free. If I had one in my toolbox, I wouldn't even charge you for the bulb!

 

Thanks and welcome Mr. Mulletskid.

I can appreciate your point, but if I go to the dealer, I have no way of ensuring it is you I deal with.

 

what you said about putting a 20 in a tech's hand is soo true. me and my dealership are all great friends. i gave a few cuban cigars to a few of my close friends. i throw them a sale here and there, and i keep the people there loving me. one of em in exhange gave me a set of c36 headers off of his car to me for free, i went and brought him a case of beer.

 

i couldn't have said it better myself. i have bult a relationship with a few of my customers and actually befriended them. i bend over backward for them when i work on their cars. i actually loose money working on their cars but i don't mind because they take care of me. yes the dealer is expensive but so is the doctors office yet people go to the doctor wait for hours in the waiting room, get checked in and prepped by the nurse, wait another hours in the examining room, then finally meet the doctor and 2 minute later get a presicription for tylenol extrastrength which probably will not fix the problem. do patients see them as crooks? most of the time no yet we get a bad rep for being very efficient by installing a light bulb in less time than what mb says it takes to do but still charge that amount. at least we fixed the burnt bulb and not guess by prescribing tylenol....

 

The same headers you tried to sell for $500.00 but Carl told you they were basically useless ?

 

I had a an interesting visit to my MB store too. I had an engine code on my 1997 E420 and took it to the local MB dealership for a diagnosis back in Nov 06. After 3 days and $250.00 later they told me that after diagnosing the computer I had no real problem other than the engines emissions ports were clogged up with carbon. The only way "they" said "they" could fix it as an authorized MB dealership was to pull the engine, take it all apart, clean the ports and heads, and put it back together then reinstall the engine back in the car. Oh, their price quote: $4,000.00!

Well, after it was suggested to me by another non-MB tech that I run four cans of SeaFoam all thru the engines crankcase, intake port, fuel system and then drive the crap out of it, the code light never came back on.....

Lets see, four cans of SeaFoam $5.95 each, I saved $3,976.80. Thank You SeaFoam!

Jeff